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General Appearance
The Beauceron is an old and distinct French breed of herding dog, developed
solely in France with no foreign crosses. Dogs were bred and selected for their
aptitude to herd and guard large flocks of sheep as well as for their structure
and endurance. Beaucerons were used to move herds of 200 to 300 head traveling
up to 50 miles per day without showing signs of exhaustion. The ideal Beauceron
is a well balanced, solid dog of good height and well muscled without heaviness
or coarseness. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity
without bulkiness, exhibiting the strength, endurance and agility required of
the herding dog. He is alert and energetic with a noble carriage. A formidable
dog with a frank and unwavering expression, he always demands respect wherever
he goes. Dogs are characteristically larger throughout with a larger frame and
heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but without weakness
in substance or structure. The Beauceron should be discerning and confident. He
is a dog with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of
timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient. The
Beauceron possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his
master. He retains a high degree of his inherited instinct to guard home and
master. Although he can be reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to
those he knows. Some will display a certain independence. He should be easily
approached without showing signs of fear.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size: males 25½ to 27½ inches; bitches 24 to 26½ inches at
the withers. Disqualification: Height outside of maximum or minimum limits.
Proportion: The Beauceron is medium in all its proportions,
harmoniously built with none of its regions exaggerated in shortness or length.
The length of body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the
buttock, is slightly greater than the height at the withers. Bitches can be
slightly longer than dogs. Correct proportion is of primary importance, as long
as size is within the standard's range. Substance: Powerful,
well built, well muscled, without any sign of heaviness or clumsiness. Dogs
lacking substance should be severely penalized.
Head
The head is long, well chiseled with harmonious lines without weakness. The head
must be in proportion with the body, measured from the tip of the nose to the
occiput it is about 40% of the height at the withers. The height and width of
the head are each slightly less than half its total length. The skull and muzzle
are of equal length. Expression: The gaze is frank, alert, and
confident. Eyes: The eyes are horizontal and slightly oval in
shape. The eyes must be dark brown, never lighter than dark hazel. For the
Harlequin, walleye is acceptable. Disqualification: Yellow eyes. Walleye in
the Black and Tan. Ears: The ears are set high, and may be
cropped or natural. The cropped ear is carried upright and is neither convergent
nor divergent, pointing slightly forward. The well-carried ear is one whose
middle falls on an imaginary line in prolongation of the sides of the neck. The
natural ears are half pricked or drop-ears, they stand off the cheeks. Natural
ears are flat and rather short, their length is equal to half the length of the
head. Disqualification: Natural ears carried upright and rigid. Skull:
The skull is flat or slightly rounded near the sides of the head. The median
groove is only slightly marked and the occipital protuberance can be seen on the
summit of the skull. Stop: The stop is only slightly pronounced
and equidistant from the occiput and the tip of the nose. Muzzle:
The muzzle must not be narrow, pointed, or excessively broad in width. Planes:
Seen in profile the top lines of the skull and muzzle are parallel, and the
junction of the two forms a slightly pronounced stop midway between the occiput
and the tip of the nose. Nose: The nose is proportionate to the
muzzle, well developed and always black. In profile, the nose must be in line
with the upper lip. Disqualification: Split nose, nose color other than
black or with unpigmented areas. Lips: The lips are firm
and always well pigmented. The upper lip overlaps the lower lip without any
looseness. At their juncture, the lips form very slight but firm flews. Teeth:
A full complement of strong white teeth, evenly set, and meeting in a scissors
bite. Disqualification: Overshot or undershot with loss of contact; absence
of three or more teeth (the first premolars not counting).
Neck, Topline and Body
Neck: The neck is muscular, of good length, united harmoniously
with the shoulders, enabling the head to be carried proudly while standing in an
alert posture. Topline: The back is straight and strong. The
withers are well defined. The loin is broad, short and
muscular. The croup is well muscled and slightly sloped in the
direction of the attachment of the tail. Body: The length of
the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is slightly
more than the height of the dog at the withers. Chest: The
chest is wide, deep, long, and descends to the point of the elbow. The girth of
the chest is greater than the height at the withers by more than 20%. Ribs:
The ribcage extends well back with long, flexible, and moderately curved ribs.
The abdomen is moderately drawn up but still presents good volume. Tail:
The tail is strong at the base, carried down, descending at least to the point
of the hock, forming into a slight J without deviating to the right or to the
left. In action, the tail can be carried higher, becoming an extension of the
topline. Disqualification: Docked tail, or tail carried over the back.
Forequarters
The construction of the forequarters is of the utmost importance, determining
the dog's ability to work and his resistance to fatigue. The legs are vertical
when viewed from the front or in profile. Shoulder: The
shoulders are moderately long, muscular but not loaded, with good layback. Forearm:
The forearms are muscular. Feet: The feet are large, round, and
compact with black nails. The pads are firm yet supple.
Hindquarters
The angulation of the hindquarters is balanced with the forequarters. The
hindquarters are powerful, providing flexible, almost tireless movement. They
are vertical when viewed from profile and from behind. Legs:
The thighs are wide and muscled. Hock joint is substantial, not too close to the
ground, the point situated roughly at ¼ the height at the withers, forming a
well open angle with the second thigh. Metatarsals are upright, slightly further
back than the point of the buttock. When viewed from behind, metatarsals are
perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Feet:
The feet are large, round, compact, and the rear toes turn out very slightly. Dewclaws:
Double dewclaws form well separated "thumbs" with nails, placed rather
close to the foot. Disqualification: Anything less than double dewclaws on
each rear leg.
Coat
Outer coat is 1¼" to 1½", coarse, dense and lying close to the body.
It is short and smooth on the head, ears and lower legs. The hair is somewhat
longer around the neck. The tail and back of thighs are lightly fringed. The
undercoat is short, fine, dense and downy, mouse gray in color and does not show
through the outer coat. The Beauceron is exhibited in the natural condition with
no trimming. Disqualification: Shaggy coat.
Colors
Black and Tan: The black is very pure; the tan markings are squirrel red; the
markings are: dots above the eyes; on the sides of the muzzle, fading off on the
cheeks, never reaching the underside of the ears; two spots on the chest are
preferred to a breastplate; on the throat; under the tail; on the legs the
markings extend from the feet to the pasterns, progressively lessening, though
never covering more than 1/3 of the leg, rising slightly higher on the inside of
the leg. Some white hairs on the chest are tolerated. Gray, Black and Tan
(Harlequin): Black and Tan base color with a pattern of blue-gray patches
distributed evenly over the body and balanced with the base color, sometimes
with a predominance of black. Disqualification: Any color other than Black
and Tan or Harlequin. Complete absence of markings. Well-defined, quite visible
white spot on the chest 1" in diameter or larger. In the Harlequin: too
much gray; black on one side of body and gray on the other; head entirely gray.
Gait
Movement is fluid and effortless, covering ground in long reaching strides
(extended trot). Strong, supple movement is essential to the sheepdog. In
movement the head is lowered approaching the level of the topline. Dogs with
clumsy or inefficient gait must be penalized.
Temperament
Frank approach and self-assured; never mean, timid, or worried. Although
reserved with strangers, the character of the Beauceron should be gentle and
fearless. Any display of fear or unjustifiable aggression is not to be
tolerated.
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree.
Note: Males must have two normal testicles properly descended into the scrotum.
Disqualification:
Height outside of maximum or minimum limits.
Split nose, nose color other than black or with unpigmented areas.
Overshot or undershot with loss of contact; absence of three or more teeth
(first premolars not counting).
Yellow eyes. Walleye in the Black and Tan.
Natural ears carried upright and rigid.
Docked tail, or tail carried over the back.
Anything less than double dewclaws on each rear leg.
Shaggy coat.
Any color other than Black and Tan or Harlequin.
Complete absence of markings.
Well-defined, quite visible white spot on the chest 1" in diameter or
larger.
In the Harlequin: too much gray; black on one side of body and gray on the
other; head entirely gray.
Approved: August 8, 2006
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